Ukrainians in Latin America greeted Pope Francis

Among thousands attended Masses led by Pope Francis there were numerous Ukrainian both in Paraguay and neighboring Argentina and Brazil, informs Radio Vatican.

Ukrainian community in Paraguay is about 8000 inhabitants. Ukrainians mainly concentrated in small communities around the city Encarnación and in the southeast, on the border with Argentina. Most Ukrainian in Paraguay work in agriculture, many Ukrainian farmers have succeeded and have farms with a significant amount of land, some work at the government, occupying high positions.

The first Ukrainian settler arrived in Paraguay in 1910. His was Omelian Paduhak from Rohatyn Ivano-Frankivsk region. Most Ukrainian arrived in Paraguay in the early 30-ies of the last century from Argentina. After World War II hundreds of Ukrainian refugees from displaced persons camps arrived here.

At the new place Ukrainian settlers gave Ukrainian names to settlements, but later, under pressure from the government, were forced to replace them with Spanish. Over time, many Ukrainian moved from Paraguay to Argentina, Canada and the USA.